Mother Worked for Hugs

I called Mom at first light on Mother's day.
The phone didn't ring one-half of one time. "Hello." She knew her favorite son would call early. Her voice might not be as strong as it once was but age couldn't hide the cheerfulness, the goodness, the love...
"Mom, you can tell me now, I was the best son you had. Wasn't I?"
"You were a very sweet boy."
"Aw Mom, that's not an answer. I was much better than the other two!"
"You were very sweet."
"Come on now, Mom, I KNOW I was better than Leon!"
"Leon was very sweet, too."
I have been trying to get her to "agree" that I was the best son she had for years now. It's hard as the dickens to get a mom to show favoritism! Even when the other two aren't around!
"Mom, I never rode a horse into the senior prom."
"That was Nicky Joe's fault. Leon was trying to keep him from getting into trouble." Moms don't ever give up. That late night gallop took place in 1960...Mother might not remember all the facts of the evening. But she did remember clearly that Leon was only "involved" to help a friend.
"I never swapped, switched and mixed the license plates on every car parked on the town square."
"Leon was an active child. Besides, it really brought some old friends together as they fellowshipped while Aaron Pinson untangled the mess. And it was kind of funny, and very creative, when you think about it."
Both of us were laughing now. She wasn't about to give in. Sometimes growing up I thought Leon was definitely her favorite. But, as I grew toward adulthood, I realized Leon was just a little more high maintenance than most. Mother had a knack of being where she was needed the most.
"Well, I was the easiest to raise. You would have to agree with that."
"You were no trouble."
"Then you finally admit I WAS the easiest to raise!"
"All three of you were a blessing."
She was enjoying not giving me what I wanted! She bemoans her 88 years and allows that she has forgotten a detail or two and a name here and there but I'm not so sure..
I changed tactics. "Mom, you will agree that I married the best girl of the group."
"You married a sweetheart for sure."
"I knew you would agree-"
"You all married wonderful girls. Paula has been so good to me. Charlotte was so special. I just got the sweetest note from Jan..."
We were laughing again. And on this Mother's Day I was down to the point where I wanted to thank her. She wasn't about to name her "best" child. But I could come up with the all-time best mother in a New York second! There's no contest!
The laughter died and I couldn't find my voice. I thought of the tumble on that gravel road down by George Sexton's house. Mom was picking those little shards out of my knees and palms...and the tears were running down her face. It didn't make no sense to me back then. How could my pain cause her tears? And you won't believe the nights she sat up putting drops in mine or Leon's or David's ear. Listen, she would warm them so they wouldn't be cold when they hit your skin. She could kiss a swollen spot on you forehead and make it better. She could rub a wart off the back of your ring finger in no time. She'd stuff us full of cod liver oil to help fend off the croup, diphtheria, malaria, Whooping cough and rattlesnake bites.
She refereed football games and boxing matches..and one free for all melee that broke out down at the swimming pool and rolled to the house. She helped us set up a backstop for the baseball games. She would serve lemonade or kool aid right before we passed out. And after everyone went home and Leon and David went inside to wash up, she would pick up a glove and throw a few more with me. She didn't get her arm up high enough and she caught like a girl, but she allowed me to be on the field for a few more precious minutes.
She was a room mother and a den mother and a Sunday School mother and a cooking mother and a Rook player if we didn't have nobody else. She gave lassoing lessons. She was pretty good with a whip. It took her weeks to show me how to make that top spin like David could do it. She never kept your marbles. And when she would come down to the elementary school for the annual Thanksgiving class play she would be the prettiest mom in the room.
It's no wonder every kid in town hung out at our house!
When the high school scene got confusing with trying to make a team or date a girl or pass English Mom knew when to be there with just the right word of advice. But more importantly, she knew when to NOT be there..
She wrote the book on kindness and thoughtfulness and forgiveness. You naturally learned from her even if you weren't too kind or thoughtful or forgiving at times. I'm where I am today because of her.
"Mom...uh..Mom...uh.."
"Son, I know. I thank you, and your brothers, for all you have done for me."
I hung up and sat there in silence. The tears slid across my face. She is still the best! You think you kinda understand when you are growing up in the middle of it..but it takes years to truly realize the breadth and depth of that type of love, devotion and unselfishness.
"No Mom, thank you!"

Respectfully,

Kesley